Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 16

शिवतत्त्ववर्णनम् (Śiva-tattva-varṇana) — “Description/Exposition of the Principle of Śiva”

Devanagari script

युवां प्रसूतौ प्रकृतेर्मदीयाया महाबलौ । गात्राभ्यां सव्यसव्याभ्यां मम सर्वेश्वरस्य हि

Transliteration

yuvāṃ prasūtau prakṛtermadīyāyā mahābalau | gātrābhyāṃ savyasavyābhyāṃ mama sarveśvarasya hi

Translation

你们二位具大威力，生自我自身的朴罗克利底（Prakṛti）；确然是从我这位万有之主的身体左侧与右侧而出。

Word by Word

• yuvām: you two
• yuvām: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuvam (युष्मद्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-शब्द; प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

• prasūtau: born/produced
• prasūtau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prasūta (कृदन्त; √sū सू धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृदन्त (PPP-like adjectival): ‘born/produced’; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; ‘yuvām’ इति विशेषण

• prakṛteḥ: of Prakṛti (Nature)
• prakṛteḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prakṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• madīyāyāḥ: my
• madīyāyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: madīya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; ‘prakṛti’ इति विशेषण

• mahā-balau: mighty/very strong
• mahā-balau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: ‘mahac ca balaṃ ca yasya’ (as adjective) = very strong; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

• gātrābhyām: by (my) two limbs
• gātrābhyām: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), द्विवचन

• savya-asavyābhyām: with the right and left (limbs)
• savya-asavyābhyām: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: savya (प्रातिपदिक) + asavya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व (copulative): ‘savya ca asavya ca’ = right and left; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), द्विवचन; ‘gātrābhyām’ इति विशेषण

• mama: of me / my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-शब्द; षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• sarva-īśvarasya: of the Lord of all
• sarva-īśvarasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘sarveṣāṃ īśvaraḥ’ = lord of all; पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• hi: indeed
• hi: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle; emphasis/indeed)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (Sarveśvara) speaking in the creation context of Rudrasaṃhitā

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Cosmogonic teaching: Brahmā and Viṣṇu are said to be born from Śiva’s own Prakṛti and from His two sides—establishing Śiva as the transcendent source of the cosmos.

Significance: Supports the Siddhāntic hierarchy where Pati is the ultimate cause; reinforces temple theology that all deities and functions derive from Śiva’s sovereignty.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Umā

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: kalpa-sṛṣṭi (cosmogonic emergence of Brahmā and Viṣṇu)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Prakriti

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It establishes Shiva as Sarveśvara (the Supreme Lord) who remains the sovereign cause, while creation proceeds through His own Prakṛti—showing the Shaiva Siddhanta relationship of Pati (Lord) governing the tattvas that manifest the world.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

By describing Shiva’s manifestation through His ‘sides’ and through Prakṛti, the verse supports Saguna contemplation—worshipping Shiva as the personal Lord who can manifest forms—while the Linga remains the transcendent sign of that same Sarveśvara beyond all forms.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to meditate on Shiva as the inner Lord (Sarveśvara) who governs Prakṛti, repeating the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with the attitude of surrender, seeing all arising energies as under His command.